Pressurized gas valve unit



April 3, 1953 A. RODGERS ETAL PRESSURIZED GAS VALVE UNIT Filed July 21, 1960 IN VE N TORS FIG. 2.

G 5 S N &% E HE N w H 0 T E R A E s N R E w T A RHY AC B Du N E H United States atent 3,086,547 PRESSURIZED GAS VALVE UNIT Arthur Rodgers, Northhrook, Charles E. lfallis, Park Ridge, and Henry Werner Huthsing, Glenview, Ill., assigners to The Fire Guard Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed luiy 21, 1960, Bar. No. 44,470 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-466) This .invention generally relates to a pressurized gas valve unit, and more particularly to a valve unit primarily designed to be employed in conjunction with a pressurized gas fire extinguisher tank. An important application of the present invention relates to manually operated and automatic fire extinguishing systems, m

'Which the fire extinguisher gas or agent is discharged from a tank or cylinder or a plurality of tanks or cylinders in response to actuation of a mechanical or electromechanical device. Of course, chemical means may also be employed to actuate the system. Such means for controlling initiating operation of the components of the system are well known in the art and form no part of the present invention.

The improved valve unit of the present invention embodies certain basic functions incorporated in units presently available on the market. However, it is one object of the present invention to provide an improved pressurized gas valve, which is constructed in such a manner that it may be conveniently tested for leakage by a limited, simplified disassembly procedure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved valve unit for use with pressurized gas containers, which embodies balanced gas outlet means such that it will remain stable despite high pressure gas dis charge therefrom.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved pressurized gas valve unit which may be conveniently recharged, and yet which incorporates means for permitting the escape of gases in the event proper sealing does not occur within the unit.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved pressurized gas valve unit in which the replacement or repair of paits is simple and convenient.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are generally attained by providing a valve unit or valve assembly designed for sealed coupling to a container, tank, or cylinder of pressurized gas with the valve assembly comprising a body having a bore extending in a vertical direction therethrough, the body including a neck or lower portion for sealable coupling to the cylinder or tank. Thus, the bore is placed in communication with the cylinder or tank for receiving the pressurized gas therefrom.

A valve seat member, including a first seating portion, is rigidly secured in the bore to the body. A main valve unit is disposed within the bore, and first spring means are carried by the body to bias the main valve unit towards engagement with the first seating portion of the valve seat member.

A second seating portion is defined by the main valve unit, and a pilot valve is biased into engagement with the second seating portion by the pressurized gas communicating with the bore.

A piston member is disposed within the bore, and second spring means are retained by the valve seat member so as to bias the piston means upwardly in the bore. Cap means are coupled to the body to retain the piston means therein. An actuating member is carried by the piston member and is designed to unseat the pilot valve upon downward movement thereof.

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An outlet is provided in the body to communicate with the bore upstream of the first seating portion such that gases may flow from the tank to which the unit is coupled past the first seating portion in response to unseating of the main valve member.

In addition, an inner passage is provided in the body and sealed from the bore; the inner passage communicates between the second seating portion and the pressure side of the piston. In consequence, upon unseating of the pilot valve from the second seating portion, the gases may flow from the cylinder or tank up through the inner passage to the pressure side of the piston to maintain downward pressure on the piston member and its connected actuating member, thus maintaining the pilot valve in the open position.

In addition, the piston is provided with a pontion which is designed to engage the valve unit after a given movement so as to unseat the main valve to enable escape of gases from the pressurized container through the outlet or discharge as heretofore described.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, showing merely an illustrative embodiment, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view through an improved pressurized gas valve unit according to the present invention; and,

FIGURE 2 is a modification of the valve unit as shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE l a valve body 10 which includes a lower neck portion 11 of annular configuration. The neck portion 11 is provided with outer threading 12 and inner threading 13. The outer threading is designed such that the neck 11 may be coupled to a conventional opening provided in a fire extinguisher tank or cylinder, while the inner threading 13 is provided for coupling of a siphon tube thereto.

The body 10 is further provided with an upper end portion 14 for threadedly connecting at 15 a piston cap 16 thereto. The function of the piston cap 16 will be clearer as the specification proceeds. The piston cap 16 includes a reduced diameter portion 17 which has outer threading for coupling to a control head (not shown) for actuation of the valve unit in a manner well known in the art. The decreased diameter portion 17 has inner side walls 18 to define a piston chamber or actuating inlet passage to the unit.

An opening 19 (as shown in the left-hand side of FIGURE 1) is provided in the body 10 for manufacturing purposes only, that is, for machining a horizontal bore therethrough, and is preferably permanently sealed by a plug 20.

The valve body further has incorporated therein a conventional safety disk 21 which may communicate through a passage 22 to an inner bore 23 extending vertically through the body 10.

Disposed within the bore 23 is a main valve assembly or unit 24 which includes an elongated valve cage 25 and a threadedly connected valve retaining unit 26. The retainer 26 is provided with radially outer arms 27 of a spider configuration so as to enable passage of gases thereby.

The retainer 26 of the valve assembly 24 carries the main valve 28. The main valve 28 may be formed of a rubber material resistant to deterioration, for example, by C0 gases as conventionally used in pressurized gas fire extinguisher units. Of course, the particular material used for the valve as such as may 'be varied and does not form a part of the present invention.

The valve 28 engages a valve seat 29 provided at the lower end of a valve seat body 30, as shown in FIG URE 1.

A cup shaped pilot valve retainer 31 is biased upwardly into engagement with the lower portion of the main valve retainer 26 by a spring means 32. The spring means 32 is retained within the body by a lip 11a at the upper end of the neck portion 11. The pilot valve retainer member 31 is provided with at least one aperture 33 to allow gas from the tank coupled to the body It) to pass therethrough.

A pilot valve 34, similarly formed of a rubber material, fioats within the retainer 31 and is normally biased into engagement with a seat 35 defined by the lower portion of the main valve retainer 26. The sole biasing force on the pilot valve 34 results from the gas pressure within the cylinder or tank to which the body 10 is coupled.

The pilot valve 34 has rigidly coupled thereto an upwardly extending stem 36.

The stem 36 is designed to be engaged by an elongated actuating member 37 :which is threadedly coupled to a piston unit 38.

An inner annular passage 39 communicates from the pilot valve seat 35 upwardly around the stem 36 to terminate in a plurality of angularly extending radial passages 39a communicating to the pressure side of the piston 38.

The piston 38 includes a lower annular groove 40 for retaining a spring means 41 which biases the piston 38 into engagement with the piston cap 16 heretofore described.

The other end of the spring means 41 is retained within an annular groove 42 provided in the upper end of the valve seat body 30. The upper end of the valve seat body 30 may also include tool holes 43 for threading of the valve seat body 3%) into the body member 10.

For sealing purposes, a gasket 44 is provided between the lower end of the valve seat body 30 and the main body member 10. At the upper end of the valve seat body 30, an O-ring 45 is provided, and similarly an O-ring 46 is provided to seal the piston member 38 to the side walls of the body 10.

Looking at the right hand side of FIGURE 1, an outlet member 47 is integrally formed with the body It and incorporates outer threading 48 for coupling to a hose fitting or the like.

The outlet member 47 has formed in the side Walls thereof a horizontally extending passage 49 which connects with a vertically extending passage 50 in the body 10.

Disposed within the passage 50 is a spring member 51 which is designed to bias a ball 52 upwardly in a valve chamber 53. A retainer member 54 is provided within the chamber 53 to limit upward movement of the ball 52.

As a feature of the present invention, the spring means 51 is designed such that the ball 52 will normally be in an unseated position, thus functioning in a manner somewhat opposite to that of the conventional check valve unit. The operation of the unit may now be described.

In operation, as heretofore mentioned, the neck portion 11 of the body 10 is threadedly coupled to a fire extinguisher tank or cylinder such that the gas pressure under normal, non-operating conditions will bias the pilot valve 34 into seated engagement with its seat 35 provided on the lower portion of the main valve retainer 26.

In the event the unit is to be operated, a control head (not shown) coupled to the threaded reduced diameter portion 17 of the piston cap 16 would be actuated so as to allow gas to enter the inlet 18 or to enable some type of force transmitting member to directly urge the piston member 38 downwardly such that the actuating member 37 coupled thereto will have its lower end engage the pilot valve stem 36 and force the pilot valve 34 off its seat 35. Of course, this unseating of the pilot valve 34 will occur before the piston 38 has its lower end engage the main valve assembly 24. i

As a consequence, gas will flow upwardly through the aperture 33 in the retainer 31 and continue upwardly in the annular space 39 defined between the actuating member 37 and the surrounding valve assembly 24 and piston 4 member 33 to finally pass out through the passages 39a to the pressure side of the piston. It should be noted that the actuating member 37 must necessarily have a smaller diameter than the encircling piston member 38 and the encircling valve member or assembly 24.

Thereafter, the pressurized gas will urge the piston member 38 downwardly a given distance such that the lower end of the piston member 38 will engage the upper end of the valve assembly 24 to in turn cause the valve 28 to be disengaged or unseated from its seat 29 provided in the valve seat body 30.

As a consequence, gases will thereafter flow through the bore 23 past the valve seat 2? and thereafter horizontally out the discharge passage 55 defined by the inner side walls of the discharge or outlet fitting 47. The gas will then be exhausted in spoke-like fashion through the openings 58 of the diffuser 56.

Normally, a hose would be coupled to the threading 48 such that the gas upon passing out through the openings 58 would flow through the hose to an outlet or to another valve unit in the system.

In this regard, in the event the valve unit is to be used or operated as a secondary unit, it would normally be operated by gas pressure resulting from another similar primary unit. In such event, a different piston cap 59, of the construction shown in FIGURE 2, would be employed. The piston cap 59 includes a protruding boss 60 limiting upward movement of the piston member 38 whereby gases from the primary unit may enter through the drilled passages 49' and past the ball 52, and through the chamber 53 to thereafter pass to the pressure side of the piston. The same sequence of operations would thereafter take place.

In the event the body It), as shown in FIGURE 1, is disconnected from the system lines, a check valve would normally be provided in the hose at its point of coupling to the discharge fitting 47 such that the hose would automatically be shut off to prevent escape of gases therefrom. The tit 57 provided on the end of the diffuser 56 functions for the purpose of opening the check valve at the time the hose is coupled over the discharge fitting 47 and about the threads 48.

In order to enable the escape of air which may be trapped under the piston 38 during its downward movement, as well as withdrawal of gases from the same area, a vent opening 61 is provided through the body 10 below the piston.

For recharging, a special fitting may be employed which is constructed such that it will seal against the face of the discharge fitting 47 covering the diifuser 56, but of a diameter preventing any flow of gases through the passages 49 and 50. In consequence, the gas will flow through discharge passage and open the main valve 28 to fill the coupled tank or cylinder.

It will be appreciated that in the event the extinguisher is inadvertently discharge when not connected to the line that the spacing of the openings 53 in spoke-like fashion will prevent any recoil to the extinguisher. In other Words, the momentum of the escaping gas is balanced such that no sidewise thrust is given to the valve body 10 or the coupled tank.

It will furthermore be appreciated that by maintaining the ball 52 in an unseated position, gases which may leak past the pilot valve 34 may escape past the ball such that the unit will not build up' any pressure therein which might inadvertently cause operation thereof. However, as soon as the pilot valve has been intentionally operated with a sudden increase in gas pressure on top of the piston 33, the pressure surge of the gas will cause the ball 52 to seat against the spring pressure 51 and maintain this valve closed such that the entire force of the pressurized gas will be used to effect operation of the piston 33.

In certain instances, the drilled passages 49 and 50 as well as the ball 52, chamber 53 and retainer 54 may not be required. However, to achieve the foregoing functions, these parts are desirable and form an important feature of the present invention, particularly in commercial applications.

The pressurized gas valve unit of the present invention may readily be tested for leakage after manufacture. Thus, by merely unthreading the cap 16 and removing .the piston 38, connected actuator 37, and spring 41, the valve unit may be placed under water and checked for bubbles. With the above parts removed, all traces of water can be removed with an air gun after water testing.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the pressurized gas valve unit is not only manufactured of a minimum number of parts, but that it is readily susceptible of testing, assembly, and repair as well as more than adequately performing all the functions desired in a valve of this type.

It will be appreciated, however, that various modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art still falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve assembly for sealed coupling to a container of pressurized gas, said valve assembly comprising: a body having a bore extending in a vertical direction therethrough, said body including a neck for sealably coupling to said container, whereby said bore is placed in communication With said container; a valve seat member including a first seating portion, said valve seat member being rigidly secured in said bore to said body; a main valve unit disposed in said bore; first spring means carried by said body and biasing said main valve unit towards engagement with said first seating portion; a second seating portion defined by said main valve unit; a pilot valve biased into engagement with said second seating portion solely by said pressurized gas; a pilot valve retainer member coupled to said main valve unit by said first spring means, said retainer member guiding and limiting unseating and seating movement of said pilot valve; piston means disposed inside said bore; second spring means retained by said valve seat member biasing said piston means upwardly in said bore; cap means coupled to said body retaining said piston means; an actuating member carried by said piston means designed to unseat said pilot valve upon a given downward movement thereof; an outlet fitting defining an outlet passage integrally formed with and radially protruding from said body, said fitting communicating with said bore upstream of said first seating portion; an inner passage in said body sealed from said bore and communicating between said second seating portion and the pressure side of said piston; and, said piston means having a portion thereof designed to engage and unseat said main valve unit after a given further downward movement thereof.

2. A valve assembly for sealed coupling to a container of pressurized gas, according to claim 1, in which said body defines a supplemental passage means communicating from the pressure side of said piston means to the exterior of said body through said outlet fitting in isolated relationship to but proximate said outlet passage; and, check valve means embodied in said passage, said check valve means being normally biased towards an unseated position, whereby said check valve means is seated upon a sudden pressure increase on the pressure side of said piston means.

3. In a valve unit operable by piston means to place a container of pressurized gas in communication therethrough: and outlet fitting integrally formed with and radially protruding from said valve unit, said outlet fitting defining an outlet passage for said valve unit; auxiliary passage means communicating from the pressure side of said piston means to the exterior of said valve unit through said outlet fitting in isolated relationship but proximate said outlet passage; and check valve means in said auxiliary passage means, said check valve means being normally biased to its unseated position, said check valve means thereby remaining unseated and enabling low pressure leakage from the pressure side of said piston through said auxiliary passage means to the exterior of said unit, but said check valve means being designed to seat upon a relatively high pressure increase on the pressure side of said piston means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,495,214 Wickersham May 27, 1924 1,592,951 McLaughlin July 20, 1926 2,100,627 Bucy Nov. 30, 1937 2,174,515 Hughes Oct. 3, 1939 2,273,856 Freygang Feb. 24, 1942 2,607,367 Mapes Aug. 19, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 470,076 Italy Mar. 18, 1952 

1. A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR SEALED COUPLING TO A CONTAINER OF PRESSURIZED GAS, SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING A BORE EXTENDING IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION THERETHROUGH, SAID BODY INCLUDING A NECK FOR SEALABLY COUPLING TO SAID CONTAINER, WHEREBY SAID BORE IS PLACED IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CONTAINER; A VALVE SEAT MEMBER INCLUDING A FIRST SEATING PORTION, SAID VALVE SEAT MEMBER BEING RIGIDLY SECURED IN SAID BORE TO SAID BODY; A MAIN VALVE UNIT DISPOSED IN SAID BORE; FIRST SPRING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BODY AND BIASING SAID MAIN VALVE UNIT TOWARDS ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST SEATING PORTION; A SECOND SEATING PORTION DEFINED BY SAID MAIN VALVE UNIT; A PILOT VALVE BIASED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND SEATING PORTION SOLELY BY SAID PRESSURIZED GAS; A PILOT VALVE RETAINER MEMBER COUPLED TO SAID MAIN VALVE UNIT BY SAID FIRST SPRING MEANS, SAID RETAINER MEMBER GUIDING AND LIMITING UNSEATING AND SEATING MOVEMENT OF SAID PILOT VALVE; PISTON MEANS DISPOSED INSIDE SAID BORE; SECOND SPRING MEANS RETAINED BY SAID VALVE SEAT MEMBER BIASING SAID PISTON MEANS UPWARDLY IN SAID BORE; CAP MEANS COUPLED TO SAID BODY RETAINING SAID PISTON MEANS; AN ACTUATING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID PISTON MEANS DESIGNED TO UNSEAT SAID PILOT VALVE UPON A GIVEN DOWNWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF; AN OUTLET FITTING DEFINING AN OUTLET PASSAGE INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH AND RADIALLY PROTRUDING FROM SAID BODY, SAID FITTING COMMUNICATING WITH SAID BORE UPSTREAM OF SAID FIRST SEATING PORTION; AN INNER PASSAGE IN SAID BODY SEALED FROM SAID BORE AND COMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID SECOND SEATING PORTION AND THE PRESSURE SIDE OF SAID PISTON; AND, SAID PISTON MEANS HAVING A PORTION THEREOF DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AND UNSEAT SAID MAIN VALVE UNIT AFTER A GIVEN FURTHER DOWNWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF. 